Windows: It may not stick around that long once the powers that be find out, so if downloading and watching Hulu videos offline could help you out, grab StreamTransport. The tricky little app provides full-quality captures of streaming shows and movies.

Advertisement

We've previously pointed out a Hulu Video Downloader that did a more robust job of downloading and converting Hulu's offerings for enjoyment on computers and portable devices. That tool is now gone, and you've probably got a good guess as to why. StreamTransport provides the same downloading function, and the quality is aces—a Saturday Night Live sketch we grabbed for a test came out looking like an iTunes (non-HD) download. The downloaded files are FLV formatted, which VLC Media Player has no problem opening, or converting for other platforms. It also can grab YouTube and a few other Flash-based videos, according to its creator, though we haven't tested it outside of Hulu.

When possible, you should go the legal, non-work-around method of streaming your shows through Hulu, commercials and all. If you're fiending to catch just the last episode of a series before a flight, though, StreamTransport could be handy in a pinch—providing it's still around when you get to it. It's a free download for Windows systems only.